Category : Education

‘A Diamond is the first love of a woman as its sparkle and beauty does not fade away with time’. Although most people are aware of the 4C’s of diamond namely cut, color, clarity and carat, still there are some amazing facts about diamond to intrigue a person. Here we are listing ‘19 amazing Diamond facts’ that will leave u in awe of this spectacular rock.

The first of the diamonds were discovered and mined in India in around 4th century B.C.

Till early 17th century India was the only place to find diamonds until it was discovered in Brazil in 1725.

Diamonds are measured in terms of ‘Carat’ derived from Greek word ‘kerátion κεράτιον’ meaning ‘Carob Bean’. In ancient times carob bean was used to measure diamonds; it is believed that each carob bean weighed nearly the same, that’s why it was used to weigh an item.

The present day round brilliant diamond has 58 facets including the culet: 33 on the crown, with a polished girdle and with pavilion consisting of 25 facets.

According to Greek mythology, diamonds were the tears of God which fell to earth to soothe humanity.

The largest diamond ever discovered is called a ‘cullinan’ weighing 3106 carats.

Diamond is an epitome of unconquerable courage and unfailing love when gifted to someone.

Diamonds are available in varied hues depending upon the impurity present in it usually in the form of a colorful mineral.

These Sparklers are formed only when they undergo extreme temperature and pressure under the earth and after a period of time travels towards the crust of the earth due to volcanic eruptions.

Rough diamonds are categorized into three qualities viz. gem quality: used in making jewelry, industrial quality: used for cutting, crushing purpose in industries and Crushing Boart: mostly used as diamond dust for polishing diamonds.

The only operational diamond mine of United States, Arkansas allows tourists to dig their own diamond from the mine for a nominal fee.

About 40% of the world’s diamond jewelry is bought by American’s alone.

A diamond weighing one carat is found one in a million and a diamond weighing two carat is one in a five million.

A rough diamond looks just like an ordinary pebble until it is polished and given its true Sheen.

Russia produced a record-breaking volume of diamonds of the world in the year 2014.

Europe and Antarctica are the only Continents where diamonds are not found as yet.

A whopping price of 53.5 million dollars was paid for a rough diamond in 2010. This diamond was cut into 24 colorless diamonds of rare flawless quality.

A diamond when polished loses approximately 50% of its original weight.

Of all the diamonds mined till date only 2% are flawless.

These 19 Amazing facts about the most coveted gem had made it even more alluring for the modern generation.

Becoming married is a huge step in your life. Not only are you combining your life with someone else, but you are also spending a lot of money on a wedding ceremony you will remember for the rest of your lives. Keeping your spouse happy and satisfied is always on the front burner when you first become married. Over the years, you may be less likely to go out of your way in order to make the other person happy. Always remember, it is the little things in life that people look forward to, and can make such huge differences in the dynamic of the relationship. Your diamond wedding rings are the symbol of your love for one another, but the little things you do for each other are what truly lets that person know you love them to the moon and back.

Your diamond wedding rings may seem like yet another material possession for you to keep track of, but they are so much more. They are what tell other people you are off the market and happily married. They are what single people look for before striking up a conversation with you. They are what you see every single day, and remind you that you have another person to consider in every decision you make.

Teaching someone to be thoughtful and conscious of another person’s feelings is a difficult task. People say they never change, and to a certain extent, that is true. If you were not raised to be aware of other people’s feelings, reactions and perceptions, then you probably will never understand the guy, who after 30 years of marriage, still happily carries his wife’s purse when she is trying on clothes, or still opens her car door every time they travel together. It is the little things in life that mean the most. Sure, you can go to the trouble of planning some huge event that happens one time, but that means nothing if the rest of the time you are void of emotion and not very thoughtful at all.

Always keep your wedding rings clean and looking good. This will make you feel better. Since this piece of jewelry is a direct representation of your love, make sure you keep it looking as perfect as you feel in your relationship. Also, wear your diamond wedding rings all the time, especially in public. Seeing your spouse without his or her ring will be a slap in the face if you are out in public together.

In this series, we’ll cover popular myths about well-known diamonds – there are quite a few (diamonds as well as myths) so be prepared for some interesting reads. Today, we’ll be covering the Koh-i-Noor, one of the most popular large diamonds of all time.

Myth 1: The Koh-i-Noor is the preeminent Indian diamond

Reality: The Koh-i-Noor, which weighed 190.3 metric carats when it arrived in Britain, had had at least two comparable sisters, the Darya-i-Noor, or Sea of Light, now in Tehran (today estimated at 175-195 metric carats), and the Great Mughal Diamond, believed by most modern gemologists to be the Orlov diamond (189.9 metric carats).

All three diamonds left India as part of Iranian ruler Nader Shah’s loot after he invaded the country in 1739.

It was only in the early 19th Century, when the Koh-i-Noor reached the Punjab, that the diamond began to achieve its preeminent fame and celebrity.

Myth 2: The Koh-i-Noor was a flawless diamond

Reality: The original uncut Koh-i-Noor was flawed at its very heart. Yellow flecks ran through a plane at its centre, one of which was large and marred its ability to refract light.

That’s why Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, was so keen that it be re-cut.

The Koh-i-Noor is also far from being the largest diamond in the world: it’s only the 90th largest.
In fact, tourists who see it in the Tower of London are often surprised by how small it is, especially when compared to the two much larger Cullinan diamonds that are displayed near it.

Myth 3: The Koh-i-Noor came from the Kollur mine in India in the 13th Century

Reality: It is impossible to know when the Koh-i-Noor was found, or where. That’s what makes it such a mysterious stone.

Some even believe that the Koh-i-Noor is, in fact, the legendary Syamantaka gem from the Bhagavad Purana tales of Krishna, one of the most popular Gods in the Hindu pantheon.
Indeed, according to Theo Metcalfe’s report, tradition had it that “this diamond was extracted during the lifetime of Krishna”.

What we do know for sure is that it wasn’t mined at all, but unearthed from a dry river bed, probably in south India. Indian diamonds were never mined but found in alluvial deposits of dry river beds.

Myth 4: The Koh-i-Noor was the Mughals’ most precious treasure

Indeed in the Mughal treasury, the Koh-i-Noor seems to have only been one among a number of extraordinary highlights in the greatest gem collection ever assembled, the most treasured items of which were not diamonds, but the Mughals’ beloved red spinels from Badakhshan and, later, rubies from Burma.

In fact, Mughal emperor Humayun even gave away Babur’s diamond – widely thought to be the Koh-i-Noor – to Shah Tahmasp of Persia as a present when he was in exile.

Babur’s diamond eventually wound its way back to the Deccan but it’s unclear how or when it found its way back into the Mughal court thereafter.

Myth 5: The Koh-i-Noor was sneakily stolen from Mughal Emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila on the pretext of a ceremonial turban swap

Reality: The popular story is that Nader Shah connived to deprive the Mughal emperor of his diamond, which had been squirreled away in his turban.

But, it was far from being a loose, singular gem that Muhammad Shah could secrete within his turban, and which Nader Shah could craftily acquire by a turban swap.

According to the Persian historian Marvi’s eyewitness account, the Emperor could not have hidden the gem in his turban, because it was at that point a centrepiece of the most magnificent and expensive piece of furniture ever made: Shah Jahan’s Peacock Throne.

The Koh-i-Noor, he writes from personal observation, in the first named reference to the stone – until now untranslated into English – was placed on the roof of this extraordinary throne, set in the head of a peacock.

Myth 6: The Koh-i-Noor was cut rather clumsily by a Venetian cutter and polisher of stone, which reduced its size significantly

Reality: According to French gem merchant and traveller Jean-Baptiste Tavernier, who was given permission from Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to see his private collection of jewels, the stone cutter, Hortensio Borgio, had indeed brutally cut a large diamond, resulting in a sad loss of size.

But he identified that diamond as the Great Mughal Diamond that had been gifted to Mughal king Shah Jahan by diamond merchant Mir Jumla.

Most modern scholars are now convinced that the Great Mughal Diamond is actually the Orlov, today part of Catherine the Great’s imperial Russian sceptre in the Kremlin.

Since the other great Mughal diamonds have largely been forgotten, all mentions of extraordinary Indian diamonds in historical sources have retrospectively come to be assumed to be references to the Koh-i-Noor.

Find GIA-certified loose diamonds at special holiday discounts at Steel’s Jewelry. Head to www.steelsjewelry.com or visit the store at 3338-I Country Club Road (Summit Pointe Village), Valdosta, Georgia. Call (229) 244-3369 for further information

If there is one thing that has undergone more evolution in a hundred years than modern humans have in the 200,000 years of their existence, it is fashion. Jewelry is the most flattering form of fashion and trends change faster than you can blink your eyes. In a changing world, if you want to stay fashionable, you need to know about the latest trends.
Here are 9 jewelry essentials for the modern woman as deliberated by In Detail’s Sarah Royce-Greensill.

The jewellery basics: 9 pieces every woman should have in her jewellery box

We’re used to the concept of a capsule wardrobe – high-quality essentials that transcend trends, pepped up with seasonal fast fashion. And why not adopt the same approach to fine jewellery? Invest in key pieces that’ll last forever and, combined in different ways, up the accessorising ante in any situation. These are the jewellery staples every woman must own.

Everyday earrings

The fashion crowd are turning their earlobes into pin cushions thanks to an influx of fabulous fine studs and “huggies”. From Hall Collection’s mix n’ match studs to Venus by Maria Tash’s tiny hoops, these are the pieces you need never take off. See full post here

Engagement ring care

Your engagement ring will probably be the most important jewelery purchase you will make. Looking after it needs not be time consuming or expensive. It will make sure that you continue to enjoy your ring for years to come.

Engagement Ring

Engagement ring care

Diamond and might be the strongest gemstone but if it is subjected to a strong blow or drop in the wrong place, it can cleave and fracture. The same applies to the metal if it is hit repeatedly over a period of time, it will show some pits and marks and will wear out quicker than it should. So what’s the answer to safeguard the beauty of your engagement ring?

Don’t wear your ring when doing any strenuous activity where the metal and/or stones are likely to be under stress, i.e. gardening, cooking. Avoid metal pans and door handles, wear gloves at the gym. Diamonds will need regular cleaning to remain bright and sparkling.

Getting your jewelry checked, repaired and rechecked is important if you wish it to last you a lifetime, especially for pieces you wear daily. If you’ve never had a jewelry piece repaired, there must be a lot of questions running through your mind. Here are six of them.

Can I get it repaired before the weekend?

Probably yes. Most repairs are simple and won’t take very long. With elaborate and intricate repairs, it is advisable that you talk to your jeweler a couple weeks in advance.

Do I need a repair if the polish wears out?

Every item of jewelry repaired at a reputable jewelry store like Steel’s Jewelry is made to look like new. Every scratch or blemish is polished out till the original finish is restored. However, white gold jewelry, new or old, tends to wear out periodically to reveal the yellow gold underneath. All white gold pieces need to be electromagnetically plated with rhodium to keep them looking like new.

Is the ring ‘stretched’ in order to increase size?

In most cases, no. Size is increased by adding sections of the precious metal at the base of the shank. It is then polished it to a flawless finish.

Should rings be checked for condition?

Yes, ideally every six months. It is natural for rings to wear out and loosen up with time, especially rings we wear every day. It can be quite easy to lose a stone if you don’t take care and get your rings checked at a professional jewelry store. Steel’s Jewelry offers lifelong cleaning and checking for every item of jewelry you purchase.

Do I get the leftover gold when my ring is sized down?

Not usually. The credit for the scrap gold is factored into the cost of the jewelry repair. The amount of gold removed is usually minimal and much, much smaller than you would expect. You can ask for what would probably be just gold shavings back, but it would slightly increase the cost of repair.

However, it is possible that when you size down a ring for an entirely different person that a considerable chunk of metal would need to be removed. In such cases, you should expect to receive the piece of gold in a plastic bag without having to ask for it.

Why do some jewelers recommend soldering your rings together?

Many jewelers recommend that you solder your wedding and engagement rings together to minimize wear down and prevent loss of stones. The truth is that rings worn on the same finger tend to rub against each other and this could result in parts of the rings wearing away while also loosening the diamonds, making it easy to lose them. Soldered rings can easily be unsoldered at a later time and refinished to a polished state.

Diamonds are brilliant. The rare gem has been praised since times immemorial, and will continue to be praised till eternity. Yes, all diamonds are forever. But there are some that write themselves into every history book out there.

Diamond Education

Here is Lizrlj from Designers and Diamonds with the 10 most famous diamonds of all.

TOP 10 MOST FAMOUS DIAMONDS

As the James Bond film title goes “Diamonds Are Forever” and like the film they are highly sought after. A great deal of diamonds are on the market that provide the luxury and appeal that luxurious collectors want. While not all of them are able to be purchased diamonds of exotic variety add a bit of variety and flair to the world making collecting diamonds more enjoyable for people of all walks of life. Be it in the Queen’s Palace, or in a normal wedding ring, diamonds create an excitement that is hard to match anywhere else in the world. See full post

Princess Diamond Engagement Ring

Shop the most beautiful authentic loose diamonds at Steels Jewelry, and become a part of a growing family.

Ever wonder what the secrets to shopping diamonds are? You’ve heard about the 4C’s of buying

diamonds from people you know and the internet, but somehow it manages to escape your

understanding. Well, no more.

Lizrlj from Designers and Diamonds has come up with a brief explanation of all things important for

buying diamonds.

EXACTLY HOW TO GET A GREAT DEAL ON A DIAMOND

It’s easy for me to share how to get a great deal on a diamond with maybe overcomplicating things…a bit. Once I get started on my 4 C’s, it’s just so easy to delve deeper and deeper into them, finding little subcategories in each one that could potentially save you hundreds – if not thousands. See full post here

With the recent advancements in science and technology, scientists have achieved the most unusual! Diamonds that are naturally formed take billions of years to crystallize from other pure carbon states like coal and graphite. It takes a temperature of about 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and a pressure about 50,000 to 70,000 times the pressure of the atmosphere. However, diamonds can now be synthesized in labs and you won’t be able to tell the difference!

Celeste Perron from Brilliant Earth sheds some light on how hard it really is to tell a lab-grown diamond from a natural one.

CAN YOU TELL WHICH DIAMONDS ARE LAB GROWN?

Although grown by scientists instead of created in the earth’s crust, lab diamonds are absolutely real diamonds—they’re chemically and optically identical to natural diamonds.

Even expert gemologists can’t tell the difference, but just for fun we’re offering you the chance to guess. Each of the sets of engagement rings on this page includes one ring featuring a lab diamond and one with a naturally mined diamond. See if your instincts can determine which is which, and get the low-down on this engagement ring option.

CLASSIC ROUND LAB DIAMONDS

Image: www.brilliantearth.com

If you’re looking for a lab grown diamond in a classic round brilliant cut, you’re in luck, because we have an expansive selection of round lab diamonds. When the process of growing a diamond was first invented labs were only capable of creating small diamonds, but today you can purchase lab diamonds up to three carats.(The lab diamond is the one on the right.) See full post here

Lab-grown diamonds are slightly cheaper than natural diamonds, but none the wiser on which is which! So it might be a good idea to invest in some high quality GIA-certified lab-grown diamonds. But take care to not buy them at the price of natural diamonds. For genuine prices on all kinds of diamonds, head over to www.steelsjewelry.com

Finding the perfect vintage or estate piece of jewelry can be a treasure hunt! I love to see the unique and one-of-a-kind pieces and imagine the story behind each one…where have they come to get here? The icing on the cake is choosing something special to take home and continuing its story.

Not many people know this, but my late grandfather “papa” owned a small repair and jewelry store downtown many many years ago. I fell in love with antique pieces as a young girl rummaging through what was left from his business, and the gifts he had given my nana and mom over the years. There was one diamond princess ring in particular that I was given on my 16th birthday. It was handed down two generations and remains so very special to me! I still wear it on special occasions.

For two days only, August 14th and 15th, we will have the largest selection of estate and vintage jewelry Steel’s have ever seen! Come ‘rummage’ with us as we see what comes in that weekend. Bring any favorite pieces that you have collected over the years and share with us your story…we can’t wait! Take a peek of some of the amazing pieces below that will be in our store.